Lockheed Martin is launching the Quantum Innovation Center (QuIC) to accelerate development of quantum technology for critical national security missions, the company says. Building on more than 15 years of work in quantum navigation, communications, and sensing, the QuIC aims to rapidly prototype and deliver defense capabilities.
“The QuIC represents our ongoing commitment to develop and integrate the best of American technology in quantum to help ensure an advantage for our nation and allies in deterring future threats,” said Sarah Hiza, senior vice president of Technology and Innovation at Lockheed Martin. The center’s model mirrors the company’s successful 20-year-old Lockheed Martin AI Center, signaling a sustained investment in advanced technologies.
Lockheed Martin QuIC Accelerates Defense-Focused Quantum Research
Lockheed Martin is replicating a successful innovation model by structuring the newly established Quantum Innovation Center (QuIC) after its 20-year-old Lockheed Martin AI Center, or LAIC. This deliberate mirroring signals a commitment to rapid development and deployment of quantum technologies, rather than purely exploratory research, according to the company. The QuIC’s operational model extends beyond internal research, actively integrating quantum technologies developed by companies within the $1 billion Lockheed Martin Ventures portfolio.
This approach acknowledges the broader quantum ecosystem and aims to accelerate the delivery of defense-ready capabilities by incorporating external innovation. Investments are not limited to the United States; Lockheed Martin recently launched a Swiss Innovation Hub in collaboration with IBM and ETH Zurich, and has allocated $100 million in Ventures funding to quantum research in the United Kingdom and Europe, according to the company. This international reach demonstrates a global strategy for accessing and developing quantum expertise.
Beyond technology development, the QuIC prioritizes workforce expansion through initiatives like the Lockheed Martin Quantum Talent Pipeline program, designed to provide quantum training to existing employees. Complementing this is Quantum Sprouts, an internal funding mechanism supporting innovative research and development projects. These programs address a critical need for skilled personnel in a rapidly evolving field, ensuring Lockheed Martin can deliver quantum technology to future systems more efficiently, the firm reports.
Primary research areas include quantum sensing for improved detection, quantum navigation and timing systems, and the advancement of quantum computing for complex problem-solving. The QuIC’s focus on these specific areas underscores its commitment to translating quantum research into practical applications for national security, and the center will operate as a center of excellence in R&D across these applications.
The QuIC builds on our heritage of doing hard things with speed at scale, and is modeled after our 20 years of success developing artificial intelligence for national security through our Lockheed Martin AI Center, or LAIC.
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